Sunscreen or Naw?

As summer continues to approach I feel the weather getting warmer and I notice myself wearing sunglasses more often. This summer may prove to be one of the hottest documented in  a long time. I am praying that my summer is full of outdoor swimming and hiking, but one thing that I must keep in mind is to protect my skin. Skincancer.org states that "skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million skin cancers in over two million people are diagnosed annually." Even though the odds of me getting skin cancer decrease because I am African American, I still want to make sure that I protect my skin this summer. I will be investing in Proactiv Daily Protection Plus Sunscreen SPF 15 or 30 due to my acne/oily prone skin and her is why...

 

Here are some reasons why we should wear sunscreen:

1. The ozone layer is depleting and your body needs shielding from harmful rays.
2. Skin cancer rates are on the rise and sunscreen has been proven to decrease the development of skin cancer.
3. It helps to prevent facial brown spots and skin discolorations.
4. It also helps to reduce the appearance of facial red veins and blotchiness.
5. It slows down the development of wrinkled, premature aging skin.

The different types of sunscreen include:

• Gel sunscreen
• Cream sunscreen
• Sunscreen lotions
• Sunscreen wipe
• Spray sunscreen
• Colored sunscreen
• Powder sunscreen 

Sensitive skin should wear:

• Paba free sunscreen - most sunscreens are now PABA-free
• oil-free sunscreen -
• hypoallergenic, fragrance free sunscreen, chemical free sunscreen
• mineral based sunscreen - the minerals titanium dioxide and zinc oxide sit on the skin instead of being absorbed into it

Acne prone skin should wear:

• Light, oil free lotions will not clog pores
• With chemical sunscreens avobenzone and oxybenzone
• Non-comedogenic (meaning it won't clog pores) and is fragrance-free

 Oily skin should wear:

• Mineral oil-free sunscreen
• Non-comedogenic sunscreen
• Sunscreens that are oil free are usually water or gel based